I love this, and it strikes me that one of the main differences between then and now is that we are awash in cheap objects. Isolation from trash in the service of taste seems almost impossible.
Secondly, I can’t think of a contemporary national authority I would defer to.
> Secondly, I can’t think of a contemporary national authority I would defer to.
I imagine people living in the developed world defer to many national authorities all the time. Being able to eat almost anything sold and drink tap water with near zero risk of getting sick, being able to trust doctors and medicine, safely flying from one place to another, minimal risk of being in a fire, having all these wireless communications devices work without interference, not worrying about electronic money and securities account balances suddenly disappearing, etc.
Secondly, I can’t think of a contemporary national authority I would defer to.